IPL 2025: 3 Players Who Can Replace KL Rahul As Lucknow Super Giants Captain
KL Rahul has captained LSG for three seasons in IPL (Source: x.com/@HustlerCSK)
The anticipation for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League is palpable as fans eagerly await the mega-auction. Adding to the drama, Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul is likely to be sacked and released from the team ahead of the IPL 2025 mega-auctions, according to reports.
Numerous floating reports suggest that the Bengaluru-born batter will not be retained. In fact, a report by the Times of India has revealed that his lack of consistency as a top-order batter has led to the LSG think tank being very displeased with his scoring rate in the Indian Premier League.
Instead of KL Rahul, LSG is likely to retain West Indies star player Nicholas Pooran, spinner Ravi Bishnoi, and emerging talent Mayank Yadav. The team is also likely to retain Ayush Badoni and Mohsin Khan as their two uncapped players.
This raises the big question: If the reports regarding KL Rahul's release are accurate, who will lead the Lucknow SuperGiants? As we wait for official confirmation, let's examine three potential candidates who could take over the leadership role for LSG:
1) Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant (Source: x.com/@_SatyaPrakash08)
After missing more than a year due to an unfortunate accident, Rishabh Pant made a solid comeback to cricket in the IPL 2024. The Delhi Capitals' skipper led his team to the 6th place with seven wins and as many losses, garnering 14 points.
However, it looks like all is not bright in the Delhi-based franchise. According to reports, DC is likely to change its captain ahead of the IPL 2025 season. Furthermore, the top leadership wants Rishabh Pant to play as a pure batter and take the captaincy pressure off his shoulders.
Pant recently also made a post, asking his followers which team he should go to if released ahead of the auction. If these rumours are true, then there's a strong chance that the right-handed batter could move to a team looking for a captain, and what better place than LSG, which is in the news to be releasing KL Rahul.
2) Nicholas Pooran
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Nicholas Pooran (Source: x.com/@rajput_rofan45)
Rather than outsourcing, there's a very strong chance that LSG will promote a player from within the team as their new skipper. LSG's power-packed Nicholas Pooran could be a fair choice since he is likely to be retained, should the Lucknow-based franchise decide to move up one of its own.
Nicholas Pooran, who has already captained the West Indies team on multiple occasions, could be a perfect fit for the team, especially because he understands the team dynamics and shares a wonderful bond with the players.
He had a brilliant 2024 season, slamming 499 runs from 16 games with a best score of 75 and a strike rate of 178.21. With such gleaming stats, LSG could possibly hope to promote Nicholas Pooran and trust him with leadership duties.
3) Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer (Source: X.com/@105of70Mumbai)
Lastly, IPL 2024 winning captain Shreyas Iyer is also mentioned in reports to be released from the Kolkata Knight Riders team ahead of the 2025 edition. Despite leading the team to their third title, according to a report from TOI, the franchise is not likely to make him the top retention; instead, Andre Russell is the front-runner to take that spot.
Iyer did well as a leader and batter, scoring 351 runs from 14 games at a strike rate of 146.86. The Mumbai-born batter was purchased for 12.25 Crore at the 2022 mega auction and played two seasons for KKR but missed the 2023 edition due to injury. With a more extensive and talented pool, KKR is reportedly looking to do better.
With such a turn of fate, Iyer could again find himself in the auction pool; without a team and captaincy, LSG could approach him to join the franchise and take over the leadership reigns.
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 "Muskaan Bhatt")
